[Biblemat] Preached to spirits in prison (question/answer)

[Don Martin]

Hello Rick,

Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible
Questions. Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org  Please
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scroll down and enter.  While on the Map Site Page, click on "Online Bible
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there.

You asked:

In the book of Peter, Jesus was talking to those in prison, what exactly
does this mean? Which prison and who was imprisoned? Were the
prisoners already dead?

Reply:

The scriptures tell us when Jesus died his soul went to hades (Acts 2: 27).
The King James Version unfortunately translated hades hell ("because thou
wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to
see corruption"). This prophecy, Peter explained, had its primary
fulfillment in Christ (vss. 29-32). The Greek word translated hell in this
verse in the King James Version is hades. The Greek word for hell is
geenna. Geenna is used for the place of the everlasting punishment of the
wicked (after judgment, Mk. 9: 43-47).

We are also told Jesus went to paradise. "...Verily I say unto thee, to day
shalt thou be with me in paradise," Jesus said to the penitent robber (Lk.
23: 43). Paradise appears to correspond to "Abraham's bosom" (Lk. 16:
23), the compartment in hades where the saved go. Hence, Jesus went to
hades, more precisely paradise or Abraham's bosom, during the three day
period after his death and prior to his resurrection.

Some misuse I Peter 3: 19 to teach that during the three day period, Jesus
went "to hell" and preached to those sentenced to hell.  However, I Peter
3: 19 is not so teaching.  The time period of I Peter 3: 19 pertains to
those of Noah's day (vs. 20).  It appears that Jesus preached to these
people "by the Spirit" and through the instrumentality of Noah (I Pet.
3: 18-20 cp. 2 Pet. 2: 5).  These people were evidently "in prison"
(hades) when Peter wrote (I Pet. 3: 19, they had been dead for many
years). If Jesus had gone to the compartment of the punishment of the
wicked during his three days (no record of such), what would he had said
to these people such as the rich man in Luke 16: 19-31 and what would
have been the point?  You see, their fate was sealed (Lk. 16: 19-31).  It
is regrettable that some misused I Peter 3: 19 to teach a second chance
("since Jesus preached to these wicked people in torment, there must be
a second chance extended," they reason).  Be sure to check out the many
articles in Bible Truths.  One is simply titled, "Hell." Click on
http://www.bibletruths.net  and enter through the door.  When on the Site
Map page, click on "Archives and Index," then click on the letter "H."

Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual
matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference
(web addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both
Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom
of the home page in Bible Truths).

Cordially,
Don Martin